The Hunger Games and The United States

She achieved what every High School English teacher only dreams of doing: getting the nation’s youth to read George Orwell. Although her book “The Hunger Games” isn’t really a work by Orwell, the same themes still ring true. Authoritative Government is a miserable way of life.

First, a quick synopsis. The book begins in a post-Republic USA, where portions of the country are split into districts, an all-powerful Capitol exists, and starving to death isn’t uncommon. Our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, has been selected along with 23 other boys and girls from all over the country, to compete in the annual “Hunger Games,” a gladiator style, government-sponsored event where 24 tributes (nominees) go in to a staged wilderness arena, and only one can come out.

Truly awful isn’t it? These kids, ranging from ages 12-18, plucked from their lives and their families, are forced to become brutal killing machines (Kony 2012, anyone?) all for the mere sport and blood-lust of the Capitol, and to make sure that the people of the districts know who is in charge. A government run by fear.

Well, thank Heavens it could never come to something like that in our country, right?

Not so fast.

When I began reading the book, I wanted to read between the lines. I started examining the mentality of the society, which operated out of fear, and I paid close attention to small things that were embedded in the culture of the districts that would allow for such an over-reaching central government. What I found mirrored issues we face today in the USA. Let’s take a closer look and see if you can find the parallels in our society and the society of “The Hunger Games.”

In the world of the Hunger Games, in their fictional country of Panem, weapons are illegal. Never mind that people are starving and a gun or bow and arrow are perfect family feeding tools; never mind that in a world of “every man for himself” weapons are a source of protection. No, the Capitol made sure that the people know that “weapons are dangerous, and we are taking them for your own good.” I guess the kids were brainwashed into believing that weapons aren’t cool. A nod to Eric Holder with that statement.

In Panem, fences mark the territories. They were built by the Capitol to “keep the dangerous animals out” because remember, there are no weapons. Nobody is allowed to cross the fences into the wilderness; that is too dangerous. Never mind that the forest has plenty of game and vegetation to feed the citizens; no, poaching is punishable by death. Which leads me to wonder: are they keeping the beasts out, or are they keeping the citizens in?

There is no religion in Panem, or if there is, you don’t see or hear about it. Besides, you are not allowed to be together in large groups that aren’t under constant surveillance by the Capitol’s police or by the genetically-altered government created birds, the Mockingjays, that could be listening in at any moment and could take your messages back to the Capitol. PATRIOT Act, maybe?

The schools are managed by the Capitol; the food is managed and rationed by the Capitol. Even the local governments of the Districts, are managed and appointed by the Capitol and pretty much exist to carry out the will of the Capitol.

Communication between the districts is forbidden. There is really no need for communication though; you aren’t allowed to travel between districts anyway. But that isn’t so bad because you are probably going to be too busy meeting your Capitol assigned quota of your district’s particular resource. Be it coal, or grain, or whatever the Capitol assigns to your district, that is the industry; that is your career option.

But you won’t say anything. You won’t whisper dissent. Why would you? Do you have a weapon to use in a rebellion? Nope. Do you have any means of communicating and creating a group to stand against the Capitol? No.

You won’t speak out of line, you won’t cry for your lost rights. You never had rights, or even if you did, you weren’t taught about them in the schools. You don’t know the first thing about government, because that really wasn’t stressed in the curriculum. Just approved material, deemed relevant by the central Government– that was all you were taught. That, and fear was certainly a part of your education.

You helplessly sign up for your turn as a tribute for your district in the Hunger Games every year. If you put your name in the drawing a few more times you might get some more food rations for your starving family.

You stand there with a forced smile, blind to the tyranny, ignorant of liberty, a government-created pawn, waiting for your name to be drawn so you can go fight another battle for the bloodthirsty society and the seemingly omnipotent Capitol.

Now, let’s play a game. Go back through what you’ve just read and substitute “Washington D.C.” for “Capitol.”

“The Hunger Games” is clearly modeled on the murderous gladiator games that were one of the gruesome features of the Roman Empire (“Hunger Games” combines the gladiator games with the TV reality show “Survivor”). Many characters in the capital city in “The Hunger Games” even have Roman names: President Coriolanus Snow (Coriolanus was a famous/infamous general from ancient Roman history. Shakespeare wrote a play about him.); Cato; Brutus; Cinna; Seneca. Panem is the name of the tyrannical nation state in “The Hunger Games.” Suzanne Collins has said that Panem is supposed to be like ancient Rome: “Panem itself comes from the Latin expression ‘Panem et Circenses’ which translates into ‘Bread and Circuses’.” This term refers to the techniques used by the Roman Empire to keep the masses happy and docile. No one ever accused the Roman Empire of being set up and run like a Socialist or Communist State. The Roman Empire, just like the nation in “The Hunger Games,” was an empire run for the benefit of an economic-political elite. The Roman Empire’s economy was based on military conquest, military occupation and taxation, slavery, and a sort of Empire-wide free trade that was set up to the advantage of the ruling Roman elite, though many of the “little people” profited from this free trade too. Only slaves could not profit from free trade, since they themselves were a commodity to be used, controlled, and traded. In modern times, the two states that consciously imitated the trappings, aggression, and empire-building of the Roman Empire were Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Hitler. The very term “fascist” comes from a symbolic weapon of the Roman Empire period. The marching banners carried by Nazi troops in parades were close replicas of the banners carried by the armies of the Roman Empire. During the Nazi occupation of Europe, many intellectuals excused the Nazis, saying, “How can we be so critical of Hitler? Is this really any different from what the Roman Emperors did?” Read the writings of Simone Weil (died 1943), where she responds to such defenses. By contrast, Stalin and Mao never wanted to be seen as imitating the imperialist Roman dictators. In sum, I think the evidence is overwhelming that “The Hunger Games” (the first novel, first movie) presents a dystopia based on Capitalism with no regulation, with no restraints, with no social safety net laws, with no voting-rights-for-all democracy, with no-Bill-of-Rights. There are many forms of totalitarianism. One is a “soft” form, which is based on systematically mis-educating many people. When “conservative” people mislead people into thinking that “The Hunger Games” represents the threat of a Socialist or Communist tyranny, they are themselves promoting misinformation that frustrates efforts to have genuine democracy and genuine free markets in information.

Unregulated Capitalism us clearly what “The Hunger Games” was meant to depict. “The Hunger Games” depicts Capitalism without any regulations or restriction, such as existed in the USA prior to the Progressive reforms led in part by President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt helped usher in the first antitrust laws which created a partial breakup of the “trusts” (the monopolies that always end up destroying competition and creating tyranny and virtual slavery for the masses in a system of unregulated Capitalism). In 1890, the life expectancy for the average worker was about 37 years old, while the life expectancy in the leisure class (the rich) was about 67. That is the paradise that unregulated Capitalism brings us. That’s what “The Hunger Games” is depicting. Of course, we don’t have unregulated Capitalism in the USA now. But many people see “The Hunger Games” as relevant to today’s world because there is a powerful political movement in the USA that wants to return to the “glory days” of unregulated Capitalism, the paradise of no antitrust laws, no labor laws, no environmental laws, no minimum wage laws, no unemployment insurance, no social security insurance, no Medicare, no Medicaid, no nothing except Herbert Hoover’s old phrase, “the business of America is business.” Of course, the USSR and Mao’s China were tyrannies too, but they did not maintain their tyranny by forcing the masses to fiercely and ruthlessly compete against each other just to get enough food. The USSR and Mao’s China were attempted Utopias based on forced cooperation, not forced competition. There was also no forced murderous competition in Orwell’s “1984.” In truth, the tyranny of unregulated Capitalism is a great evil for the vast majority of the people. So is total Socialism. That’s why all the richest countries, those with the highest average standard of living, all have Mixed Economies (part Capitalism, part Socialism). This is so clearly seen in the northern European countries, all of which have a per capital GNP much higher than the USA has ever had.

Guy
Your fall back position seems to be name-calling. Why can’t you lay out a counter argument?
I agree with Bart. The FACTS support his point. Guy is just a name caller – a mal-informed labeler.
How’s that for name calling? It’s good to be KIng isn’t it Guy?

Mcstiner
on June 5, 2015 at 3:26 pm

A radical socialist calling for a mixed economy? No absolutes in either direction? Sounds super radical!

Amy
on August 29, 2012 at 2:43 am

The Hunger Games let me know what it was like for my father at the age of 19, to be drafted to Vietnam. He was extremely intelligent and gifted, very good looking, very physically fit and tall. There wasn’t anyone like him.

He was plucked from society while those around him worried about fashion, and their petty problems, and never once thought about how awful getting drafted was like. Case in point, no comments in this blog has made that paralell. He didn’t want to go, why would he? Just like the hunger games. No one knows why that war was fought, or why politically no one seemed to want to win.

When he returned, he was the only one around who knew what it was like to go to war, and become strong enough to return a “victor”, meaning he lived through pages of ambushes. Then he suffered combat PTSD, much like Hamitch. No one was their for him, until the last few years of his life.

You will always be remembered Daddy. I now know what it was like for you due to this movie.

Amy
Your analogy is spot on. BY the way, Vietnam was fostered by both parties but resistance to it came primarily from the Left.
My dad fought the Nazis in Germany and like millions of Americans of his generation he voted for FDR. FDR, the most liberal president was elected not once, not twice, not three times but four times. Were all these Americans wrong all four times? Of course not.
It is fascists like Guy who attempt to “revise” history by promoting garbage, changing and distorting facts and out right lying .

Katy, let me put it to you this way. Go get some psychiatric help. You are sick and so is any idea that the Hunger Games should be a reality. It is absolutely pathetic and detestable. There is no chance…not since Roman times, nor will this ever be acceptable. You are probably a young kid or adult that has a twisted sense of reality thinking killing of another human being is acceptable. In a form which I cannot describe, these are the same people who see no problem in killing unborn children up until the 9th month. 50 million and counting since 1972. 50 million! Is that enough Hunger games for you!

I haven’t read the book yet but I did see the movie yesterday and unfortunately I couldn’t help but imagine what society this replicates. After finishing the movie I’ve found that the best modern day example of todays society and a society replicated in the hunger games is north and south korea.

As you know The Republic of South Korea is a free market society that gives its people the freedoms and avenues for prosperity. Much like our country is today!

Now look at North Korea which its people are under complete and total dominance and control by their government. Their individualism is radically limited considering almost every action in their life is controlled by the government mandated programs. The city of Pyongyang is its only prosperous city in North Korea consisting of mostly government workers and officials.

Like the hunger games Their government chooses their jobs for them. One thing that really put this comparison into light was the different divisions of workers camps. That is a scary reality today for North Koreans. If you talk bad about your government in North Korea you and 3 generations of your family are sent to these workers camps where you will live out the rest of your lives. Death by starvation is common. If you escape outside the perimeter the penalty is death. Sound familiar?

In conclustion a Republican society is nothing like the hunger games but a Communist Society that its citizens only options are the social programs given by their government??? You be the judge.

Todd, excellent comparison. Hopefully, Bart and Amy read your post and learned something from it. Liberals, progressives and socialist/communist think they’re so smart – and they’re actually stupid enough to believe most people believe their pseudo-intellectual explanations of revisionist history. They would have you believe that the overwhelming masses in Russia and China actually wanted to be enslaved into the societies they created…yeah, right. It is always the inherent nature of human beings to desire to be free – to make good choices and bad ones – as long the decision is theirs. Bart doesn’t get that. That’s why the people of these United States will rise up again in revolution before they ever allowed themselves to be dictated to by the government. It’s in our nature.

Whoa, there GUY. You are being very offensive to people who only made a comment, not for you, but for Tanner. Please try to be nicer to other people; even if you do not have the same beliefs, opinions, or views.

H
on March 24, 2012 at 5:20 pm

A society which operates out of fear? Sounds like the Republican party!! Especially if you read this article. If you really believe that our society is even remotely similar to the fictional one you are comparing it to, you should be examined for schizophrenia.
Weapons are not even close to being illegal. We can travel anywhere we want to, and no one is trying to limit that. We can do whatever we want to for a living. The only fences marking our territory are the ones fought for by Republicans to keep out illegal immigrants. Communication is not restricted in anyway. There is religion everywhere. I will agree that we aren’t very well informed about the workings of our government beyond material deemed relevant by a tiny group of conservatives in Texas who get to decide what the entire nation will learn because the text book makers are, unfortunately, located there. Obviously, the biggest difference between The Hunger Games and the United States of America is that WE DON’T HAVE OUR KIDS RUNNING AROUND KILLING EACH OTHER. Under ordinary circumstances, I would assume that this would go without say, but you seem to be having a difficult time distinguishing between reality and fantasy. Guess I can’t really blame you. I enjoyed the books too….. but GET REAL!!

H,
I don’t think I could disagree with you more. I think it maybe it is you who needs to put down the iPhone and take a good look around you (it may also help if you remove your rose colored glasses).

Let me address some of your issues that you brought up:

1. “Weapons are not even close to being illegal” I don’t know the last time that you tried to purchase a weapon but depending on what state you live in and what you are trying to purchase will depend on A. if the item is even available and B. if it is even legal to own said weapon. Have you tried to own a handgun in NYC? Have you tried to purchase a handgun in Miami, Chicago, California? Maybe you would like to try Canada for purchasing a handgun, and let me know how that works out for you. Even if you purchase a handgun legally in North America then you are still faced with the fact that you have to have a background check done, you have to go on a registration list (so when they outlaw handguns they know where to collect them at just like they did in Germany at the start of the rise of the Nazi power). It is not a big leap to go from all guns to all projectile weapons, to knifes (look at what England is trying to do now).

2. “We can travel anywhere we want to, and no one is trying to limit that” – I currently live in Canada and just to cross the border takes around 4 hours by car and that is if your name is not close to someone who is on the no not allowed in group. And how about the TSA? Don’t want to be searched then you can’t travel by air (and soon by train, then bus). And just for fun when was the last time you traveled to Cuba for pleasure?

3. “We can do whatever we want to for a living” – Sure you just keep telling yourself that. I am sure that you think you can also be president of the United States. There once may have been a time when that was true, but not anymore. Do you have to pay for a license to practice your trade? Do you have to join a Union to perform your duties? If the Union goes on strike are you allowed to continue working? Maybe you should come to Canada where (depending on the field of study) you have to take a test three years after you graduate ($1000.00 to $1500.00) to even be able to practice your trade, if you fail you have to re take the test (same price again), if you fail twice then you will need to pick a different trade or go back to school.

4. “The only fences marking our territory are the ones fought for by Republicans to keep out illegal immigrants. “ please see # 2

5. “Communication is not restricted in anyway” – I so wish that this one was true. Maybe you missed the article in Wired magazine regarding the new NSA data center they are building in Utah but here is a link (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/03/ff_nsadatacenter/all/1). Even encryption will not be safe from the government. They don’t want to restrict communications they want to feed it into a “Google” type system and be able to filter out everything you have said, e-mailed, web surfed, tweeted, facebooked or printed in the last 7 years. Who are you friends with, what are their habits, how does that reflect on you? The Government will soon be able to tell you that. It will soon be guilt by association. You have classes with an out spoken student then you will be flagged by association.

6. “WE DON’T HAVE OUR KIDS RUNNING AROUND KILLING EACH OTHER” – I am not sure that we live in the same world. You should try reading the news papers for a week from Chicago and tell me how many kids are running around killing other kids? Yes they are in gangs, but empirical evidence disproves your statement. We as a society have reached a point where we are so apathetic towards the other people around us that we fail to even notice when violence happens because it did not affect us directly, therefore it did not really happen.

I am worried about those who are coming out of school in the next few years because soon they will realize that they were sold a dream that cannot be fulfilled and much like the Occupy Wall Street, group they will have nothing but rage left to feed their feeling of disappointment. The youth of North America will simply demand to be enslaved so that they can get what they feel they are entitled to receive. So many of the Occupy Wall Street groups are asking where is my Happily Ever After? Where is my Money, my House, my Mercedes, my Food, my Cloths, my iPhone, my iPad, my WiFi, my ad nauseum.

1. I have lived in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. If gun laws are so restrictive, then explain to me how everyone seems to own them out here including some pscycho hillbilly who is currently running around the area I live in randomly shooting people’s dogs for the hell of it. I don’t know what kind of maggot you have to be in order to be denied ownership of a gun, but if people like this can get ahold of them, then I’m guessing it can’t be too difficult. Personally, I don’t have a problem with background checks preventing convicted felons from acquiring handguns.
2. Yes, we (Americans) can travel where we want to within the country as well as to most other countries. Aside from Cuba, the other six countries in the world that we are not allowed to travel are all places in which we would surely be killed in no time. I don’t have the slightest problem with being searched when traveling by plane. Being searched is not a travel restriction. It is a safety precaution without which we would surely have been attacked again. While it may be time consuming to wait at the border, your travel is not being restricted either.
3. I am doing exactly what I have always wanted to do for a living. I do not have to have a license to practice my trade and I do not have to join a union. This article is about comparing THE UNITED STATES to the Hunger Games, not Canada.
4. “please see # 2”
5. The stuff you’re describing here sounds a little scary. I’m not sure how much is paranoia and how much is real. Probably a little of both. However, monitoring communication and restricting it are two different things. I repeat: Communication is not be restricted.
6. “WE DON’T HAVE OUR KIDS RUNNING AROUND KILLING EACH OTHER” I would have thought that the meaning of this statement would be clear to anyone that has read the Hunger Games, but apparently I need to clarify. I meant that we do not put our children into an arena where they are forced to kill each other on national television. Not really sure how you can take a different meaning from that or argue with it.

H
on March 25, 2012 at 2:55 am

Almost forgot! I don’t own (or want to own, or feel entitled to own) an iPhone that I can put down in order to take a good look around me. I don’t think that my country is perfect, but to suggest that it is even remotely similar to The Hunger Games is completely ridiculous.

Jaques
on March 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm

H,

Having grown up in Utah, moved California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New York, Florida, Lisbon Portugal, and now Montreal Canada, let’s just say that it is an eye opening experience to leave the United States and even a much more eye opening experience to look back at the state of the United States since I left the country 10 years ago. So please allow me to reply to your remarks.

1. Gun Ownership – I have owned guns when I lived in the US, and I know that I had to give up that right when I moved to a different city. While it is true I chose to move to that city it is also true that I am granted the right to keep and bear arms by the constitution. I had my apartment broken into more times in New York City then in any other time in my life. There were murders every day involving hand guns that are illegal to own in the city. When I was in Portugal there were murders every week involving knifes. They were in the process of trying to pass a law that would require a registration to own a knife (including kitchen) and if you did not pass the background check then you could not own a knife.

2. Travel – What you say is true to an extent you are free to travel where you want, when you want, because you want. Unless of course your name is Mohammed Husain and there is a Mohammed Husain on the Government watch list. Or there is always the case of Michael Savage (Radio host – California) who is banned from entering England due to his radio show. I am sure that you feel that being searched is just a part of air travel now, but there used to be a time when we believed in the 4th amendment, but not so much anymore (I mean if it is for the greater good). If I want to travel I have to give up my rights, I can’t refuse the search if I want to make my flight. I can’t refuse to let them look through my luggage, I can’t refuse to not throw away the drink I just bought at the vending machine, I can’t refuse to give them the password to my laptop if requested, I cannot refuse to let them search my USB devices, or camera SD cards. The rate things are going Habeas Corpus will be thrown out before too long (it is for the greater good after all).

3. Work – I also do exactly what I have always wanted to do, but being in a different country then the one that I am a citizen of it is interesting that I have to pay a yearly work tax (Work Permit) and that I have to belong to the Union here. Again I don’t have to live here I could live in another country or even move back to the United States and yes I know that it is my choice to live under this system. You should try working in New York City for a while, try working in the construction trade in New York without belonging to the Union and see how well you are able to work. Just because things are one way where you live does not mean that it is the same everywhere. It is true that article is comparing the United States to the Hunger Games but in truth the Hunger Games books are Based on North America not just the United States.

4. Communications – While it is true that we are able to communicate with who we want, when we want, because we want. There should be some expectation of privacy there (which there is not). Right now it does not matter what is said in a phone conversation or sent in e-mail, but what if the United States was attacked again? It is like using a telephone in Hong Kong where you know everything you say will be recorded and analyzed. What if you spoke out against the President of the United States, or even posted a picture of you with a shot up T-shirt on your facebook page? I mean now they can hold you without reason for an undetermined amount of time, without charging you or allowing you access to counsel (I mean J Edger Hover would have been so proud). How long until the Gulags would arise? How long until the re-education camps to help you think the right way? How long until the Secret Police will be enacted? (I mean it is all for the greater good) Communications will not need to be restricted because we as a people will self regulate due to the fact that we don’t want to be picked up off of the street for saying the wrong thing or inciting treasonous acts.

5. Kids on Kids Violence – You really want to believe that you have no effect on those who pass through the school system? We all know that the school system is an utter failure, with those privileged few who can afford to send their children to private schools doing so. We all see the stories or the Youtube videos of the High School Seniors who cannot tell you what the war of 1812 was about, who the United States fought for freedom in the revolutionary war, or even point out where Afghanistan is on a map. And yet we all sit back and expect someone else to change the current system, to reform the system, to challenge the Unions. It will never happen and so in a way we all contribute to those who have no other choice but to turn to the gangs for safety, security, and family because we as a society have allowed laws to be passed that remove these features for most of the children in the inter-cities. Maybe we don’t pull names and have a reaping day, but instead we hold a lottery to determine which child will be lucky enough to go to a charter school, to be given an opportunity to better themselves and who will be left to the life of the public schools, and in turn to the gangs and the kid on kid violence. Maybe it is not televised as the children kill each other but it is posted on the walls of the gang territory those that have been lost to the violence. We as a society have become so apathetic in regards to the education of our children that we don’t fight to remove the bad teachers, we don’t try and fight the Unions, we just kiss our children good bye and send them off to the indoctrination centers every morning. We condemn those who opt out of the system as being weirdo’s, rebels, fundamentalists, and different. How dare someone think that they know better than the Government on how to raise their children?

6. United States VS Hunger Games – Maybe the United States is not the Hunger Games yet, but it is much closer then it was 10 years ago. You should leave the United States for 5 years (go to Australia or Mexico, or Singapore) then come back and see if you even recognize the place that you left. It will amaze you what you see when you don’t live in it each day, you will wonder what happened to the country that you used to live in. The United States more closely resembles what the USSR used to look like in the 1980’s then it does the United States that I grew up in. It will not be a large leap for the scenario in the Hunger Games to come true. It will only take the next attack and the constitution will not mater, the trap will spring and people will wonder what happened. You should study up on Germany and World War II, look at the night of long knifes, and Crystal Night (Kristallnacht). The country is changing so much that before long we are going to have a President who will refuse to step down when his term is over, and soon we will look like a 3rd world country.

Jacob Mason
on September 20, 2012 at 3:00 am

Well I will admit you are obviously intelligent. And all your arguments have some truth behind them. But based merely on the books and “the capitol” your comment has some flaws. Actually referencing small government; ie naming cities and one state doesn’t have anything to do with big government control…you referenced what Susan calls “peacekeepers” and not Panem. I’m not in total disagreement with your novel u just wrote but there’s a lot you said I wish we could converse about over a beer instead of on a comment blog.

Guy
on December 26, 2013 at 1:43 am

H, you’re either a liar or an idiot…which is it? You are totally and completely disingenuous. “A society which operates out of fear? Sounds like the Republican party!!” Pa-lease. Who do you think you’re fooling? I’ll even make it simple for a simpleton such as yourself. Imagine if for the past 30 or 40 years that the U.S. was totally run by liberal-progressive socialists, such as yourself. What rights would anyone really have with a government that would “dictate” everything? But, if you had true conservative Republicans running things for that same period, wouldn’t citizens today have even more liberty (than what we currently have)? Any truly honest person, who is genuine, knows the answer to that. So much for Republicans being the party of fear. Oh, by the way, H, can you point out a single example of how or when the GOP practiced fear mongering? But, if you have a few hours, I’ll give you plenty of examples throughout U.S. history of the Democrats doing it. Nice try, H, but no cigar here!

There goes Guy – name calling again.
You are beyond help and not worth the time.
.

Matthew Mason
on March 23, 2012 at 5:29 am

Tanner, first off, I couldn’t read the book. I tried to, but couldn’t stay with it; it was just boring.

Moreover, it has been done before: Check out the film version of the Japanese novel BATTLE ROYALE. This doesn’t take place in the distant future. It takes place within the first decade of the 21st century.

HUNGER GAMES is most likely the most overhyped film I will NOT see this year. Or any other year, for that matter.

Battle Royal: In the future where the government forces ninth grade students to fight to the death under the revolutionary battle royal act.

Hunger Games: Set in the near future after an apocalyptic devastation, the country of Panem has no communication with the other remaining countries and forces there children to fight to the death in an arena seen as a televised famous t.v show were the winner gets gold, riches and becomes a celebrity.

Now tell me. What do these to books have in common other than the fact that children/ teens are forced to fight to the death. NOTHING. NUDDA. Battle Royal might have a meaning of love as the main character loves this girl and what not which is similar to the Hunger Games (the two protagonist fall in love) But the hunger games is about the battle for Freedom. The devastating moment when the poor have to entertain the rich. Where the poor basically kill each other for the rich. Hunger Games is closer to reality (Not that it’s gonna happen) where as Battle Royal isnt. I enjoyed the BR Movie, loved the HG books/movie, but you have to realize they have there similarities but also there differences. Don’t let one small part from both books stump you and then go: RIP OFF, THIS IS RIP OFF blah blah blah. Hunger Games isnt all about killing kids, Battle Royal isnt all about killing kids, so HOW THE HELL ARE THEY THE SAME?